Formal channels are the most traditional method of communication in a police organisation. Formal channels include formal orders, directives, and written memoranda and provide a sense of order and security to a police organization (Wallace & Roberson, 2009). Informal channels are considered the unofficial avenue of communication in a police agency. Also known as departmental gossip, informal channels do not appear in any organizational chart and are not always authorized by the department. Both channels provide the avenue for information to flow within a department and both can be used in many situations to obtain information within a department